Conveyer system



S. EGGLESTON CONVEYER SYSTEM Aug. 29, 1933.

Filed Dec. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 3mm Sniff Z eszon Aug. 29, 1933. E STON CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 g owlaz.

SmfiZE Z esian m WJWW 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 s. EGGLESTON CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1950 llLllllllL Aug. 29, 1933.

3772 i fill 926310 Z; Ella Aug. 29, 1933. S EGGLESTON 1,924,488

CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet s Aug. 29, 1933. 5 EGGLESTQN 1,924,488

CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 wWhz W i 30 claims.

removed toshow parts otherwise concealed;- Fig. roller 24 fi 515d 31 D 1415f Patented Aug. 29 1933 i UNITED STATES PATENT 1 Standard Conveyor Company,- St. PauL, Minng, a corporation of Minnesota Ajlpiicationnetemben,1930. sci-m1 116600.019 20'Claims. (o1.- ss-s This invention relates to a conveyor system plan' of a typical fdriii ortiie sys'tem'aiid'Figf. '14 f having carriers propelled along a main conveyer is a diagrammatic side View oftliefs'ar'n and unloading stations or branch conveyers' to The main c'ofiveiif illustrated i'sof' the ti pe which the carriers maybe automatically delivered usually placed in s'iiiis'tar'itiallii liormdntal p'osi 5 under control of selecting devices located on the tion and having a bed of freely rotating" rollers .15- e carriers. supported on side rails 16 and adaptedto' b' r'o It is my object to provide; in a System01: this tated by an endless, pt" "f-dr'ivn [Seltjlfkpfhis kind, novel and efficient means for switching or belt is heldindfivin'g en'gige' em with thi lower diverting carriers from the main conve'y'er to the peripheries 'of,thro1lexfs I51pva series of rollers branch conveyers' or side stations. 18. ;At ach'side a; guide in the {orifiof an 5 Other objects'ar ei, anglebar is provided for the earfitr'sztwhitiiare 1. To provide means for diverting the carriers Supported on th 1 1 6? D f i hC S 'i 'Bfi i lle'ifs fromthe main conveyor at, a large number. of THUS t w be $66?! t thelmaifl ei points with certainty andby simplified mechai of h W fi f f WP? Q i 15 msm; a v i g g r 1 1 At selected points along the main onteyeri ii- 7o 2. To reduce the cost of erection by providing d n Stations. of r nch bfiv yrs 211M616"- stationary switching devices" which are similarly Gated receive the .CQI' Q h' 'wfl located at the several switching or diverting Figs; 451 and Each bra'fifi fi fi "v pgints; r i preferably of the gravity type having a sloping 2.0 3. To provide improved carriers for coac'tion b d' fi Ierst s pport the Carriers and a guide 15 with such stationary switching devicesj and T511722 p i n abpve'the rollersa't each side.

4. To provide novel andefiicient mechanism for rjbrtiofis'flzd and of thef, guide rai s causing carriers to continue alongtthe main conog f f 9 t i i t ma ometer. veyer in the event that the branch conveyer for s" 24' nd 25 near the entrttnc o t 25 which the load is intended hasv bee n previously branch-convey are pos iv ly driven to move so,

filled with carriers or contains a predetermined thcal'flfirs quickly out of the patli of other car; number of carriers v i riefs which fOlIOW along the main Further objects will appearand be more fully T0 drivei the f l 2 24 d2 h tl l'i i pointed out inthe following "specification and Snubbed d 9l d'1"11 m 26 w c i l'b fa ed if} v v r be'aring' s'secufe'd to the bottoms of the ails It? Referring to the accompanying drawings; Figth W lt being ui ied;a1ofind ahother rolj1er 2'l, ure 1 is a plan view of a branch conveyer or unas best shown in Fig. The drum 26 1's" fixed on loading station, together with-lithe adjacent pora 52 a i end o s t n iet j' rbm tion of the main conveyer; Fig t 2- is aside eleva- Q fi rb i and'hasasniral g "ar: 29', 35 tion of a portion 0f the main con gym, prefercured to' itfixlillllilijf; Th6 gfil alblll ably constituting the-approach to a bra nch con i'Q'ii'30QiI-3i shift 1 sup'nbr i g the'rolli" 23. veyer and also showing one of the carrier's; Fig. Sfi t 3, i fj f d n in'ej, ails 32 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown-in Fig. f -fQ 'QK i' pfeffabl Grter' than the 2; Fig. 4 is atransverse section-through the main S Zin t p'g ifi'th' x m of par "any bfiveyonas here m is a transverse section through thebranchj conlifter dciibdfih .e' iitflf is veyer taken on the line 5- -5 r Fig. i; Fig. 6 provided wi h sp o k t e i l i in a is a front elevation showing in detailtheupper! chain etwmtn, in turn, portion of one of thecarriers with the burnper 35 on a shaft 36. The

wheel arr-for driving r '7 is a fragmentary, plan view of, one of the carachain" 38 having driving: enfgagfrfne t with a; riers; Fig. 8 isa verticalsection taken onthe line Sprocket wheel 39. A shatt {104s amen the 8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig 9 isa side elevation showing sprocket writer 39 and the roller" 25'. It the stop mechanism onthe branch conveyer; will be noted thatthe driven sprocket wh'els35 50 Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line and 39 re s 'frlaller' than the driving sprocket 105 10-'-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is aside-elevation of an whels33'. and 37 so that the speed of the rollers alternate and somewhatsimpli-fied form of ac- 24 and 2 5-i's' progressively increased. l tuating device for the switch-engaging mechar A stationafylswlt'ch' providedn 'rthgiinism on the carrier; Fig.--1 2 isaplan viewofthe trance to" thebranch conve er, switchconfv s 41 extend 11 0 device Fig, llgFig. wis-ad-iagrammatic sists of a pair of spaced, 'pa r v 44 is provided. The upright-members'43 are secured to 'one of the side rails '16 of the main,

r delivery end of theguide the bars 41 terminatedirectlyabove the roller 23 so that when a pin ing substantially horizontally above the path of conveyer. Inverted U-shaped clips 45 and 46 rigidly connect the switch members 41 together. The clip 45 is fixed on the bottom of the frame ,member 44 and the clip 46 is secured to the bot' tom of a short angle bar 4'7 fastened to a vertical face of the member 44; The switch bars 41 form.

a guide groove between them for the pins 42 on the carriers 20 and this groove has an open receiving end above the main conveyer and an open delivery end above the branch conveyer. At the 42 is released by the switch" bars the carrier is free to be further advanced along the branch conveyer under the influence of'the roller23 or to be returned to the main conveyer as hereinafter described. The branch conveyer and stationary switching mechanism above described may 'be duplicated at the several unloading points along one side (the left) of themain conveyer and'sirnilar conveyers and switches may be placed'at selected points along'the opposite side (or right) of'the main conveyer. TA pin 42a near the front corner of each carrier, opposite the pin'42, is provided to engage the switch bars 41, where the latter are disposed to turn or divert the carriersto the right.

The carrier 20 has a smooth bottom 48 adapted to rest on the rollers 15 and at each longitudinal,

bottom corner an'angle bar 49 (Fig. 3) has 1111*. wardly projecting flanges 50 to which are secured frontrcorner posts 51*and rear corner posts 52, these. posts being of angular form in cross sec tion. Corner reinforcing plates 53 furtherconnect the bars 49 with the posts 51.and'.52.' The posts 52 are connectedtogether by a rearbumper 54. At the front of the carrier a'b'umper55 pro- 'ects and behind this bumper isimounteda'pair of bearings 56 for a horizontal shaft 5'7. Ii'ite gralwith the bearings 56 are vertical sockets 58 for the pins 42 and 42a. The pins 42 and 42a are urged"upwardibyjcoiled springs 59 in the sockets 58 anda lug 66 projects from each pin through a guide slot 61 in its socket. The lug 60i'strikes the upper end; of the slot 61 to. limit upward movement of the pin 41. Fixed on the shaft 5'7 near the bearings 56 are .detents or dogs .62 adapted to engage the lugs 60 to retain the; pins 42 and 42a in downwardly retractedposition against the action of the springs "59 Coiled springs 63 are retained under compressionbetween the -bumper.55 anddogs 62 to urge said dogs toward the lugs 60. 7 i

. 'Slidable along the shaft 57 are similar" feelers 64 and 65 adapted to be secured in selectedposi tions on said shaft by manually operable latches 66. These latches are pivotedonpins 67 and their lower ends 68 are movable into recesses 69 in the shaft 57, small springs '70'b'eing arranged to. press the latches into engagement withselecte'd recesses. The feelers 64 and 65 are arranged so that when their upper ends are moved rearwardly. of the carrier, the shaft 57 is turned and actuates the dogs 62 to disengage the 'lugs fiq' and permit the pins 42 and 42a tobe thrust upward under the actionof the springs 59. s p

Mechanism associated with each unloading station or branch conveyer is provided for actuating the feelers 64 and 65. 'As shown inFigs.

2 and 3. this actuating mechanism'is supported on uprights 71 which are secured to the outer surfaces of the side rails 16 of the main conveyer.

' From theupri'ghts 71 bracket arms '72 project to support a pair of parallel shafts 73 and 73a. Pendant from the shaft 73 is a finger 74 and asimilar finger 75 projects downward from the pins against the action of their springs 59. Whenpressed down 'bythe cam members '77 and 77a, pins 42 and 420: are retained: in retracted position by the dogs 62 until the feelers 64 and 65 are actuated against the actionof the springs In Figs. 11 and 12 an alternate form of actuating device for a feeler on a 'carrier isxillustrated.

This device is designed for use with a carrier having a singlefeelerisand to engage such feeler,

a finger 78 is fixed on a shaft '79, saidshaft having a suitable support above the path of the carriers. Secured to one end of the shaft'79 is a downwardly projecting arm 80 which is con- 'nected by a stiff tension spring 81 toi oneof the uprights 82' supporting the device. The spring 81 is provided'merely to prevent breakage in the event o accidental'or improper placing of a stationary or heavy object on the carrier in position to engage said fingen; In the normal operation the finger '78 does not move when engaged by a feeler [on the. carrier. tracting the pins 42 and 42a, on'the carriers are 'also' secured'to' the uprights 82. A'finger '78 is associated with-each switchingdevice and the fingers 78 for the several, switches are located on their supporting shafts 79 in positionsto coact with a feeler, such as the feeler. 64, in different "positions transversely of the carrier.

- -Mechanism is provided for automatically causing a carrier, which is adjusted to be diverted at a given branch conveyer, to be returned to the main conveyer in'the eventthat such branch conveyer is already oc'cupiedby' a predetermined This mechanism is shown in conveyer; The plunger 83 is slidable in a bearing 85gand has a suitable connection with a crank 86 fixed on a pivot pin 87. Another crank 88 on the shaft 87 isconnected by a link 89 to a crank90 fixed on a pivot pin -9l supporting the arm 84. r A coiled spring 92 connects the arm 84 toa f xed 7 support in such a manner asv to extend saidjarn into the path of carriers and to normally retract the stop plunger 83 from the path of said car 'riers. The stop plunger 83 islocated at a distance" slightly greater than the length of a carrier from the delivery end of the guide formed by the switch members 41 so that when the branchconveyer is filled with carriers theentrance thereto is blocked by the last carrier. to enter the same. a 'The rear end of the latter carrier is thus disposed at such a point that any subsequently diverted point adjust the feelers on diverted carrier. To effect the return of the blocked carrier to the main conveyer, an oblique roller 93 is placed in the bed of the main conveyer in such a position that it influences the carriers to increased degree as they are guided by the end of the previously diverted carrier on the branch conveyor. p v

As shown diagrammatically in Figsgl-I and 1i, the main conveyer has an upper reach for moving the carriers in one direction and a lower reach adapted to move them in the opposite direction, the same endless belt 17 being employed to actuate the supporting rollers for the carriers along arm 94 is arranged to sweep the gravity secriers to the lower reach of the mainconveyer. At the delivery end of the lower reach a suitable device is arranged tosweepthe carriers therefrom and to deliver them to an inclined belt 96. This belt 96 discharges the carriers to' a gravity section 97 which completes the circuit by transmitting them to the upper reach of the main conveyer. A feed conveyer 98 may be employed to load the carriers on the main conveyer and operators stationed at this feed conveyer or loading the carriers to select the diverting point for each carrier. In the embodiment illustrated, the several branch conveyers are arranged to receive the carriersfrom the upper reach of the main conveyer and the feed conveyer 98de1ivers them to the lower reach of themain conveyer.

Operation At the loading-point an operator selects the station to which a carrier is to be delivered by manipulating the latches 66 .on the feelers 64 and 65 and moving said feelers to the proper positions along the shaft 57. It will be understood that by providing a plurality o'flfeelers diverting maybe eiiected at a large number of points without unduly increasing the number of positions for each 'feeler. When a carrier with the feelers adjusted thereon is placed on the main conveyer it is carried thereby in branch conveyers 21 successively. As the car- .rier approaches each diverting point it passesbeneath the stationary retract the pins 42 and 42a to positions correcams 7'7 and 77a which that indicated infull lines in Fig.8, where said pins are retained by the dogs '62. Thereafter, as the carrier passes shafts 73 and 73a where the fingers 74 and 75 are so located as to actuate the feelers 64 and 65-, said feelers will be engaged substantially sim fingers. The fingers being movable onlyin opposite directions by reason of their connecting mechanism including the gears '76, are prevented from moving when both are struck from one side sponding to y by the feelers on a carrier. Thus the'feelers are forced backwardly on the shaft 57 to release the lugs of' the springs 63. Thepins 42 and 42a are now projected upward by the springs 59' and thereafter one of said pins will pass between a pair of the switch bars 41. The carrier is now guided by the switch bars until its front end is supported on the short roller 23 rotating to move the carrier along the branch conveyer. During the diverting operation the carrier is: turned by theacombinedaction to enter the 'branchconveyer it strikesthe rear both reaches. Near the delivery end of the upper reach, an carriers therefrom laterally onto a tion 95 and the gravity section transmits the car- Fig. 2, in the latter case, the feeler .which strikes the direction 1 indicated by arrows in the drawings to or past'the 'to c'oact with a 'feeler on a carrier at different transverse positions, and the pins 42 and 42a are 'ltaneously .b-y thecarrier and turn the 60 against the'action' increased as it is acted-upon by the rollers 23, 24 and 25. l The increased speed causes the car-' 'Iifil tomove quicklyout of the path of succeed- V onthe branch ing carrierson the main conveyer. When a carrier strikes the arm 84 conveyer, the stop 83 is thrust into the path'of succeeding carriers, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. I. For example, when acarrier 20ais stopped in contact with the'arm 84 the stop plunger 83 is thrust into the path of carriers, such as those' indicated at 20b and-20c. The subsequently diverted carrier 20b now blocks the entrance to thebranch conveyer and if athird carrier ZOcsta'its end of the carrier'20b and is guided across said which returns it to the main conveyor. The main conveyor is'endless, as indicated in Figs. 13 and 14, so that the carrier 20c"continues aroundits endless path until it again arrivesat the branch conveyer where'it' is adjusted to be diverted. If

of the rollers 15, 23,24- and-25 and its:speed is end until the carrier 200 is engaged by the roller 93 the fingers-74 and 75 are V 42aremain in their retracted positions andthe carrier passes freely, beneath the switch bars 41 of the next or' associated station. The same is true if only one of the'feelers64 or 65 strikes a finger '74 or 75. Asindicated in dotted lines in the finger merelymoves the fingerout of its path, the other finger of the pair being free to move in the opposite direction and the springs 63 having j sufiicient tension to prevent movement of the dogs 62in such case.

Where only=one feeler isreduired on. a carrier, l the actuating mechanism for the feeler shown in vFigs. 11 and 12 may be employed. Thefinger'lB coacts with a feeler on a-carrier (in case the r latter is set to engage thefinger) to trip the switch pins 42 and 42d. The stationary switch bars 41 at the associated diverting point arethen engaged by the projecting pin 42 or 42a'to divert the carrier. It will be understood that the "several fingers '78 near the divertingpoints are positioned only tripped to project'fromthe carrier at thei selected divertingpoint.

1 haveillustrated my invention asapplied'to conveyer of the-.type described in Patent N0.

veyers may be driven in the sameniamier as those I of the main conveyor, or a' common belt conveyer may be employed for each of the branch. stationsj Having described my inventionwhat I claim as new and desire toprot'ect by Letters ,Baterit is:

l. A conveyor system having in combination a conveyer, a. station laterally adjacent to said,

conveyer, a carrier movablealong said conveyer, a switch associated with said station for diverting carriers thereto from said'conveyer,extensible and retractile means on said carrier adapted to engage said switch when extended, an: element on the .undercontrol of saidei'ement m for extending said switchen'gaging means'and means associated with-said station for engaging said element to divert the carrier.

2-. A conveyor system having in combination'a conveyer, a station laterally adjacent to said conveyer, a carrier movable alongsaidconveyer, a

.switch associated withsaid station for diverting carriers thereto from the conveyer, said switch a stationar'y switch associated with said station for diverting carriers, thereto from the conveyer, movable means on said carri'erlt'o engage said switch, means for normally retaining said switch 1 engaging means inpredetermined position, a feel- 'er on the carrier for actuating said last mentioned means, meansfor actuating .said switch-engaging means and means associated with said station for actuating said feeler. a

4. A conveyer system including a conveyer, a

branch station laterally adjacent .to said'con- ,veyer, a carrier movable along said conveyer, a stationary'switch associated with said station for diverting carriers thereto from the conveyer,. eX- tensible and, retractile means on said carrier adapted; to engage said switch when extended, means for extending said 'last mentioned means, a detent for securing said extensible means in predetermined position; a feeler on thecarrier for 'aotuatingsaid detent and-means associated with said station for actuating said feeler,

- 5. A conveyer system comprising, a conveyer and a plurality of stations laterally adjacent to saidconveyer, a stationary switch associated with each of said stations to -divert carriers thereto,

from5the conveyena carrier movable along said conveyer,-an extensible and retractile switch en gaging member on said carrier adapted to coact withsaid switches to divert the carrier from the conveyer, an'element projectingfrom the carrierymeans under control of said element to extend said extensible memberand an actuating device for said element associated with each statransyersefpo'sitionsy V 6. A conveyer system comprising, a conveyer and a plurality of stations laterally adjacent to said conveyer, a stationary switch associated with each; of said stations .to divert carriers thereto from the conveyer, a carriermovable along said ;conveyer, a movable switch, engaging member on said carrier adapted'to coact with acplurality of said switchesfto' divert the carrierfrom the conveyenian. element 1 projecting from'the carrier, means undercontrol offsaid element for actuating said switch engaging member, said element being movable to" different .transversepositions on the carrier, and actuating devices-for said element associatedlwith the several stations and' each located'to operate said element in one of its I '7; A conveyor systemicomprising, a main conveyer and a" plurality of branch conveyers, ,a stationary switch-associated with each of said branchesfto divert carriers thereto from the main conveyer, a carrier movable along said conveyer,

said switches being mounted out of the path of saidcarrier, an, extensible and retra'ctile switch engaging. member on said carrier adapted to co act with any of'said switches to divert thecarrier-from the main conveyer,-means for extending said switch-engaging member, a feeler project ing from the carrier and operatively connected to said extending means, said-feeler being movable I);

to difierent transversepositions on the carrier and actuatingidevices for said feeler associated with the several stations and each differently located transversely of the carrier.v

,A conveyer'. systemhaving inacombination a substantially horizontal conveyer, a -.station lat-- erally adjacent tosaid conveyer, a stationary switch extending substantially horizontallylto divert carriersto said station, a carrier movable along said conveyer, an extensible switch engaging member on thecarrier adapted to coact with 1 said switch to divert the carrier from-the conveyer, means for controlling movement of said switch-engaging member to operative position,

automatic means for: retracting said extensible member from operative position, said controlling means having an element projecting from the carrier and an actuating device for said element associated with said station. q

9. A conveyor system having in combination a substantially. horizontal conveyer, a station laterally adjacent to, said conveyer, a stationary 7 switch extending parallel to saidfconveyer above the same to divert carriers to said station,;'a carrier movable along said conveyor beneath; said switch,

an upwardly extensible switchengaging member a on the'carrier adapted to coact with said switch to divert the carrier from the'conveyer, means for extending said, member, automatic means for retracting said extensible membena detent for retaining said extensible member, in retractedpcsition, a feeler projecting from said carrierfto trip said detent and an actuating devicefor said feeler, associated withisaid station. I

a '10. -A conveyer system having in combination a substantially; horizontal conveyer, a plurality of stations laterally adjacent to said conveyer, a stationary switch extending substantially horizontally adjacent to each station to divert carriers thereto, a carrier movable along said conveyer,

said switch being out of the path oI -the carrier,

an extensible switch .engaging membei on the carrier adapted to coact with any of said switches to-divert the carrier from the conveyer, means associated with each of said stations for retractingsaid extensible member, means for extend;

a feeler projecting from said ing said member,

carrier and operatively connected ,to said exa tending means, and an actuating device for said s feeler associated with each station.- 11.,A conveyer system having in combinaticna conveyer, a multiplicity of stations laterally adja cent to said conveyer, switches for diverting carriers to said stations, carriers movable along said conveyer, a plurality'of selecting members pro-' jecting from each carrier and'movable thereon to select the branch station to which the carrier is to b e diverted; a pair of pivoted fingersassocia tedwitheach station to coact with a pair of said selecting members in diverting carriers and an;

ranged to be actuated by said members, and sci nse tions between said fingerswhereby saunas of one finger by a selecting member causes" an opposite movement of the other finger, and von simultaneous engagement *of both fingers byla pair of selecting memberathe fingersarelocked against movement. v

1 2. A conveyer system having in combination a conveyer, a multiplicity of stations laterally adja m ds nve ea wi s fo d rs ie sarriers said conveyer, means for riers to said stations, carriers movable along said conveyer, a plurality of feelersprojecting from each carrier and movable thereon to select the stations to which the carriers are to be diverted,

a pair of fingers associated with each stationtocoact with said feelers to divert carriers and arranged to be actuated by said feelers, shafts severally supporting said fingers and gears connecting said shafts. 7

13. A conveyer system having in combination a conveyer, a multiplicity of stations to receive carfrom said conveyer, carriers movable'along said conveyer, means for said stations, a plurality of station selecting members on the carriers, a pair of fingers associated with each station to coact with said selecting members in diverting carriers and connections between the fingers of a'pair, said connections being arranged to permit the free passage of a carrier when actuated by one of the selecting members on said carrier and to cause the carrier to be diverted when the fingers are simultaneously struck by a plurality of said members on the carrier. I

14. A conveyer system having in combination a conveyer, a multiplicity of stations to receive carriers from said conveyer, carriers movable along diverting carriers to said stations, a plurality of station selecting members on the carriers, a pair of fingers associated with each station to coact with said selectingmembers in diverting carriers and connections between the fingersof a pair for positively moving the same whereby actuation of one finger by a selecting member causes an opposite movement of the other finger and on simultaneous engagement of both fingers by a pair of selecting members, the fingers are locked against movement.

15. A conveyer system having in combination a main conveyer, a branch conveyer to receive carriers from said main conveyer, carriers movable along the inain conveyer, automatic switch means adapted to divert carriers from the main conveyor to the. branch conveyer, means independent of said switch means for automatically blocking the entrance to said branch conveyer when ,the latter is filled and means for returning a subsequently, partially diverted carrier to the main' conveyer when said blocking means are operative. i g 16. A conveyer system having in combination a main conveyer, a branch conveyer to receive carriers from said main conveyer, carriers movable along the main conveyer, automatic switch means adapted to divert carriers from the main conveyer towardthe branch conveyer, means operable by a carrier on said branch conveyer'when the same is filled with carriers to prevent the completion of a subsequent diverting operation and means for returning a partially diverted carrier to the main conveyer when said last mentioned means are operative. v

diverting carriers to 1'7. A conveyer system having in combination a main conveyer, a branch conveyer to receive carriers from said main conveyer, carriers move able along the main conveyer, automatic switch means adapted todivert carriers from the main conveyer toward said branch, means for automatically stopping a carrier near the entranc'eto said branch conveyer when the same is filledwith carriers and means for returning a subsequently,

partially diverted carrier to the main conveyer upon the encounter of the same'with a carrier.

at said entrance.

, 18; A conveyer system comprising, a main con-' 'veyer, a branch conveyer'laterally adjacent to' the main conveyer, carriers movable along the main conveyer to and past the branch conveyer, automatic switch means having a movable ele ment on each carrier adapted to be set for diverting the carriers to said branch conveyer,means independent of said switch means for automaticallyblocking the entrance to saidbranch conveyer when the latter is filled, means for engaging a, carrier on said ,branch conveyer V to render said blocking means operative andmeans for returning subsequentlyswitched carriers to lOO the main conveyer when said blocking means are operative.

19; A conveyer system comprising, a main con- 1' veyer, a branch conveyer laterally adjacent to the main conveyer, carriers movable al'ongithe main tionaryswitch associated with said branch con- -veyer, a movable element on each carrier adapted to be set to coact with said switch for diverting the carriers to said-branch conveyer, said switch having a delivery end near the entrance to said branch conveyer, means for automatically blocking the entrance to said branch conveyer at a point beyond said delivery end of the switch is filled and means for 20. A conveyer system comprising, a main con-x veyer, a branchiconveyer laterally adjacent to the main conveyer, carriersmovable along the main conveyer to and past thebranch conveyer,

stationary switch means associated with said v -branchconveyer, a movable element on each carrier adapted to be set to coact with said switch means for diverting the carrierto said branch co'nveyerfa stop associated with said branch conveyer to stop a carrier thereon in position to block branch conveyer, means enthe entrance'to 'said and extending'said stop'into the path otcarriers on said branch conveyer'and means for returning subsequently switched. carriers to the main conveyer upon the stoppage of a carrier on the branch conveyer near theentrance thereto."

i v SlViITI-I lilGGLESTON.

gageable by a carrier on said'b'ranchconveyer conveyer to and past the branch conveyer, a sta- 1 15' returning subsequently switched carriers to the 

